Switch-controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers.



L. HOLLAND-LUZ.

SWITCH'CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF BAKE REAPERS. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 2, I9I2. 11,? Patented June 12, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Ianni/Iliff] n l.. HOLLAND-LUZ.

SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF RAKE REAPERS.

u .APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. 2, i912. Mwi 6, Bafemd June 12, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

u f'jenfor. .Y @wand-@ f L. HOLLAND-LUZ.

SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF RAKE REAPERS.

APPLICATION FiLED JAN. 2, 1912.

l ,29g l Patented June 12, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.-

L. HOLLAND-LUZ.

swlTcH coNmoLLmG mEcHANlsM FOR SELF BAKE REAPERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 2 |912. 1,229,615.,

Patented June 12, 1917.

5 'SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' Ns Nunn/s News co., uom-Limo.. wAsnuv mwA o c.

I.. HOLLAND-LUZ. SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF BAKE REAPERS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 2, ISIZ.

' Patented June 12, 1917'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1 I III I 1 'tl'NlTED STATES PATENT FFME.

LUI) HOLLAND-LETZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL HAR- VESTER COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SWITOII-CONTROLLING MECHANISIVI FOR SELF-BAKE REAPERS.

Application filed January 2, 1912.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LUD HOLLAND-Lary., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Controlling Mechanism for Self-Rake Reapers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to self-rake reapers, and in particular to the counting mechanism employed in the class of machines indicated, in connection with the rotary rake head and the switch for controlling the frequency of the raking action, and has particular reference to that class ofy counting mechanism in which the switch is controlled hy a latch which is actuated periodically hy a toothed tripping lever, to which a step by step forward movement is imparted by an actuating pawl connected with the rake head and which is returned to its initial position when the latch has been tripped hy a spring when the tripping lever has actuated the latch; the objects of my invention heilig to improve this class of counting devices by providing simple and convenient means for increasing the range of adjustments. I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a self-rake mechanism having my improved switch controlling means forming a part thereof;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rake controlling cam, the rake switch and the switch controlling mechanism designed to illustrate the means whereby motion is imparted to the various operative parts of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part of the rake controlling cam and a cross section of the switch controlling mechanism designed to illustrate the operation of the switch controlling latch;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the latch in a position to retain the rake switch in a closed position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of part of the switch controlling mechanism designed to illlustrate the operation of the mechanism in one position of its adjustment;

Fig., Gis a similar view designedV to' illus- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Serial No. 669,026.

trate a different position of adjustment of the mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Figs. 5 and 6, having the upper side of the casing, in which a part` of the switch controlling mechanism is mounted, out away; y

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the mechanism `with one side of the casing removed as seen from the opposite side from that shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. r8, illustrating an advanced position of the toothed .latch tripping lever;

Fig. 10 is an endelevation of Fig. 9, having the rear wall ofthe casing removed;

Fig. 11 isA a detached detail of the mechanism designed to illustrate the construction of the toothed latch tripping lever and its connection with acam operative to control the movement of the pawl mechanism;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the toothed latch tripping lever;

Fig.` 13 is a side elevation of part of the mechanism designed to illustrate the operation of the pawl vmechanism and the cop- Aerating latch tripping parts;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to that of Fig. 13, showing the latch tripping lever in tripping position;

1 Fig. 15 is'a sectional end elevation of part ofV Fig. 13, with the end moved; and

Fig. 16V represents a top plan view of part of the cam track of the rake mechanism and the rake controlling switch.

The same reference characters. designate like parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the vertically arranged shaft of a common form of self-raking mechanism of a reaper that is adapted to he rotatably connected with an operative part of the machine, 2 a part of the rake stand in which said shaft is journaled, 3 a rake head secured to the upper end of said shaft and rotatable therewith, i rake supporting arms pivotally connected with the -head in a manner to rise and fall therewith, 5 the rake cam operative to control the path of movement of the rakes, 6 the rake switch having a vertically arranged stem 7 that is journaled in a depending boss 8 f forming part of the rake supporting frame. Secured to the lower end of the stem 7 is an arm 9, and 1G of the casing rerepresents a coiled spring encircling the lower end of the boss and having one end thereof engaging with a fixed part of the rake frame and its opposite end with the arm 9 in a manner to normally turn the switch to an open position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 16. The rake arms are provided with the usual rollers 11 that travel upon the cam track and control the rise and` fall of the rakes in their rotative movement. The switch 6 is provided with an inwardly curved tail portion 12 that projects beyond the axis of the switch and within the path of movement of the rollers 11, whereby the switch is caused to turn to a closed position as the roller passes through the channel, as shown in Fig. 16. 13 represents a box-like casing that is secured to the rake stand by means of bolts 14 and in which is mounted the operative parts of the counting mechanism. 15 represents a collar secured t-o the shaft 1 below the rake head, rotating therewith' and provided with a series of Oppositely disposed cams 16 projecting outwardly from the periphery of the collar in diametrical relation, their number corresponding with the number of rakes. As the shaft rotates the projecting cams successively engagefwith a roller 17 journaledupon a bar 18 intermediate its ends, the bar having one end pivotally connected with the rake frame in a manner whereby a swinging movement in a horizontal plane is imparted thereto as the cams engage with the roller, the opposite end of the bar being adjustably and pivotally connected with a pawl arm 19 by means of an eye bolt 20 that is threaded into the outer end of the arm and provided with a jam nut 21. The pawl arm is provided with a barrel portion 22 that receives a compression spring 23 that is operative `between an ear 24 integral with the rake frame and the inner end ofthe barrel in a manner to swing the bar 18 in an opposite direction from that caused by the opera-Y tion of the cam projection. The pawl arm extends through an opening 25 in the adj acent end wall of the casing 13, and its inner end is provided with a hook portion 26 that is adapted to engage with ratchet teeth 27 formed upon the sector-shaped portion 28 of a-latch tripping lever 29 that is adapted to rock upon an axially arranged pin -30 having opposite ends thereof received by openings in the side walls of the casing. 31 represents a gravity locking pawl having` one end pivotally `connected with an end wall of the casing and its opposite end adapted tor engage vwith the ratchet teeth 27 upon the latch tripping lever in a manner to lock the latter against aY rocking movement in a direction opposite to that caused by the operation of the pawl arm 19. 32 represents a switch latch bar 4having one end adj ustably and pivotally connected with the arm 9 upon the lowerend of the stem 7 of the rake switch by means of a link 33 having one end threaded and received by the latch bar and its opposite endv provided with a hook portion 34 that is received by an openlng in arm 9. The latch bar is slidably received by an opening 35 through a side wall of the casing 13 and is provided with a shoulder portion 36 that is adapted to engage with the lower wall of the opening 35 in a manner to lock the rake switch 6 in a closed position as shown in dotted position on Fig. 16 when the rake switch 6 is rocked about its axis by the rollers 11 upon the rake arms engaging with the tail portion 12 of the rake switch. To release the latch from vengagement with the wall of the casing and permit the spring 10 to rock the switch 6 to anv open position, there is provided an arm 37 upon the'latch tripping lever 29 that engages with the lower side of the switch latch 32v in a manner to raise it as the latch tripping lever 29 is rocked about its axis by its actuating pawl 19, untilV opposite to that when moved by its actuating pawl 19, a spring 39 being coiled-about a boss upon the tripping lever 29 concentric with its axis and operative between a -iixed part of the mechanism and the latch tripping lever in a manner to rock said lever in the direction as indicated. The inner end of the pawl arm 19 is provided with a'channel portion 40 that overlaps the adjacent end of the gravity pawl, and when the latter is raised by an inward movement ofthe latch bar it carries with it the pawl arm and prevents the latter 'from engaging with he'toothed portion of the latch tripping ever. ,A

There are ve teeth upon the sector latch tripping lever, and 41 represents an index plate upon the side of the casing having numerals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 thereon corresponding in number with the teeth upon the sector lever. 42 represents a laterally projecting stem integral withl the toothed sector lever and extending vthrough a slotted opening in the side wall of the casing within the path of movement of a Vhand lever 43, having its lower end pivotally connected with the casing and its upper endy within convenient ,reach of the operator, and 44 represents a hold it in adjustment, the rib being arranged concentric with the axis of movement of the hand lever, and the latter having sufficient resiliency to permit it to be released from the notches when it is desired to swing it about its axis. The stem 4t2 engages with the hand lever in a manner to limit a rocking movement of the latch tripping lever in a direction opposite to that when actuated by the pawl arm 19. lf the hand lever be moved until it rests in the notch designated by the numeral 2 on the index plate, the pawl arm 19 will engage with the last one of the series of teeth upon the latch tripping lever and cause it to rock sufficient to release thc switch latch and permit the switch to open, and the next rake will sweep the platform, and each alternate rake will do the same so long as the hand lever remains in the position indicated. The actuating cam projections 16 are positioned relative to the rakes in a manner to properly time the cooperating parts of the counting mechanism, so that the switch is permitted to open sufriciently in advance of the movement of the rakes to give a free passage for the rollers without danger of becoming locked against the point of the switch. If the hand lever be moved to engage with the notch indicated by 8 on the index plate, the actuating pawl will engage successii'fely with two of the teeth upon the tripping lever, allowing the third rake to sweep the platform; if in notch 4, with three teeth; if in notch 5, with four teeth, and if in notch 6, with all the teeth and permit each sixth rake to sweep the platform.

It is desirable that means be provided whereby the automatic action of the counting mechanism may be suspended temporarily' no matter where the lever 43 is positioned; as, for instance, when the machine is being turned about the corner of a field of grain, the suspension being necessary for the purpose of holding the gavel upon the platform so it will not be deposited in a position to be trampled upon by the draft animals during the succeeding'round. This result is attained by means of a rocking cam that is mounted coaxially with the toothed tripping lever and provided with a laterally projecting stem 46 that projects through a slotted opening in the casing, and 417 represents a link having an eye portion that receives the stem, and the opposite end of the link may be connected with afoot lever or other actuating means within convenient reach of the operator. A18 represents a spring coiled about a cylindrical hub integral with the cam and operative between a fixed part of the casing and the cam in a manner to rock the latter in a direction opposite to that when moved by the link 17 Vhen the cam is actuated by the link it engages with a depending ear 49 integral with the inner end of the pawl arm 19 in amanner to raise it and prevent it from actuating the toothed tripping lever, and the automatic action of the tripping mechanism is thereby suspended until the cam is released and permitted to return to its initial position. The cam operates to raise the pawl arm without disturbing the position of the locking pawl 31.

it is also desirable in the operation of the machine to have the automatically operating tripping mechanism under the control of the operator in a manner whereby none of the rakes will sweep the platform until the vmechanism is tripped into action by the operator, and the following described mechanism is provided for that purpose: The toothed tripping lever is provided with a plain surface 50 upon which the pawl arm 19 slides freely when the hand lever is caused to engage with the notch indicated by 0 upon the index plate, as shown in Fig. 6. Vhen the tripping lever is in the position shown the pawl arm cannot engage with the teeth but will slide freely back and forth upon the plain surface of the tripping lever. Manually operative means are provided for turning the toothed tripping lever 29 in a direction permitting the pawl arm 19 to engage with the toothed portion thereof in a manner to trip the counting mechanism into action including a laterally projecting ear 51 upon the cam member 45, that is adapted to engage with a rib 52 upon the tripping lever in a manner to cause the lat-ter to rock about its axis when the operator rocks the cam by means of the rod 47, the range of movement of the cam being sufficient to rock the tripping arm through four-fifths. of its range of movement, inwhich position it is held by the locking pawl 31 and the pawl arm 19 then engages the last tooth of the series upon the tripping lever, as shown in Fig. 11 and causes the lever to release the switch latch and the switch opens and allows one rake to sweep the platform. If it is desired to have all of the rakes sweep the platform for the purpose of depositing the grain in a continuous swath, the hand lever is moved to the notch described by the numeral 1 upon the index plate, and when in that position it permits the toothed tripping lever to swing to its rearward limit. 53 represents a laterally and rearwardly projecting finger integral with the tripping lever that is adapted to engage with the toe member 5ft of a rocking block or bell crank 55 that is pivotally connected with the casing below the switch latch, the block being provided with a rearwardly projecting weighted heel portion 5G and an upwardly extending arm 5T. Then the tripping lever engages the toe member and causes the block to rock about its axis in a direction to cause the arm 57 to pass across the path of movement of the switch latch 8:2, as shown in Fig. 5', in which posilos tion the end of the arm will form a rest for the inner end of the switch latch to slide upon when it isy released and the latter will be held in an elevated position that will not permit the shoulder thereof to engage with the casing, and consequently the switch will be open as each rake approaches it, and all of the rales will continue to sweep the platform until the operator rocks the cam member 45 in a direction to rock the tripping lever away from the block, 55, and the block then swings from under the switch latch 32 and permits the latch to lock the switch 6 in a closed position, and as soon as the cam is released the associated members return to their initial positions, and the rakes will continue to sweepY the platform, the cam member being operative to suspend the operation of the counting mechanismk at the ywill of the operator.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment of my invention, it is, of course, to be understood that the form chosen is used for purposes of illustration and that the invention itself may be embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A switch controlling mechanism for self rake reapers including, in combination,

.a series of revolving rakes, rake actuating means, means for controlling the path of movement of said rakes including a .pivoted switch, means for locking said switch against movement in one direction, means operatively connected with said rake actuating means for'automatically releasing said Vswitch locking means at predetermined periods and at certain unvarying points in the path of movement of said rakes, the point of movement of said automatic switch releasing means being controlled by said rake actuating means and supplemental latch controlling means actuated by said lock releasing means.

2. A' switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, in combination, revolving rakes, a rake driving shaft, a rake switch, means for normally holding said switch in an open position, a switch latch operativeto retain said switch in a closed position, means operatively connected with CIT sai d rakes for periodically and automatically releasing said latch, said means including a pivot toothed lever and an actuating pawl therefor operable in a step by step manne-r in unison with said revolving ralres whereby said latch is automatically released at regular recurringy predetermined intervals, and means for temporarily disengaging said actuating pawl and supplemental latch controlling means actuated by said latch releasing means.

8. A switch controlling Vmechanism for self-rake reapers including, in combination, revolving rakes, a rake driving shaft, a rake switch, a spring operative to normally move said switch to an open position, a switch latch operative to retain said switch in a closed position, means connected with said i'akes and operativein a manner to periodically release saidlatch, said means including a rocking toothed latch tripping lever adapted to engage with said latch, a pawl mechanism adapted to engage with said latch tripping lever in a manner to rock said lever in a step by step manner in a direction to release said latch, and supplemental latch controlling means actuated by said latch tripping lever.

e. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, in combination, revolving rakes, rake actuating means, means for controlling the path of movement of said rakes including a switch, a switch controlling latch, a latch releasing mecharnism controlled bythe movement of said ralres, and supplemental latch controlling means actuated by said latch releasing mechanism.

5.'A switch controlling mechanism for. self-rakereapers including, in combination,

revolving rakes, rake actuating means, means for controlling the path of movement of said rakes including a switch, a switclicontrolling latch, a latch releasing member controlled by the movement of said ralres, and a supplemental latch controlling bell crank actuated directly by said latch releasing member. y

6. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, in combination, revolving rakes, rake actuating means, means for controlling the path of movement of said rakes including a switch, a switch controlling latch, a latch releasing member lcontrolled by said rake actuating means, a

supplemental latch controlling bell crank pivoted below said latch and adapted to engage therewith, and means carried by said latch releasing member for turning said bell crank into an engaging position with said latch.

7. A switch `controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, in combination, revolving ralres, a` rake driving shaft, a rake switch, a spring operative to normally retain said switch in an open position, a latch operative to retain 'said switch in a closed position, means connected with said rales and operative in a manner to periodically release said latch, said means including a rocking toothed latch-tripping lever having an arm adapted to engage with said latch, a pawl mechanism adapted to engage with said toothed latch tripping lever in a manner to rock said lever in a step by step f manner in a direction to trip said latch, said Vpawl mechanism being operatively connected with said rake driving shaft, and a rocking manually controlled cam pivoted coaXially with said lever and operative to hold said pawl mechanism from engagement with said latch tripping lever.

8. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, in combination, revolving rales, a rake driving shaft, a rake switch, a spring operative to normally retain said switch in an open position, a latch operative to retain said switch in a closed position, means connected with said rales and operative in a manner to periodically release said latch, said means including a rocking toothed latch-tripping lever having an arm adapted to engage with said latch, a pawl mechanism adapted to engage with said toothed latch tripping lever in a manner to rock said lever in a step by step manner in a direction to trip said latch, said pawl mechanism being operatively connected with said rake driving shaft, a hand lever adapted to limit a rocking movement of said tripping lever in an opposite direction, and a manually controlled rocking cam pivoted coaXially with said tripping lever and operative to hold said pawl mechanism from engagement with said latch tripping lever.

9. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers, including, in combination, revolving rakes, a rake driving shaft, a rake switch, a spring operative to normally retain said switch in an open position, a latch operative to retain said switch in a closed position, means connected with said rakes and operative in a manner to periodically release said latch, said means including al rocking toothed latch-tripping lever having an arm adapted to engage with said latch, a pawl mechanism adapted to rock said tripping lever in a step by step manner in a direction to trip said latch, means whereby the operation of said latch may be temporarily suspended, said means including a finger upon said tripping lever, aA rocking block having an arm adapted to engage with said latch when said block is moved in one direction, said finger engaging with said block in a manner to rock it in a direction and cause the arm thereof to engage with said latch when said tripping lever has reached the limit of its range of movement in a direction opposite to that imparted by said pawl mechanism.

l0. A switch controlling mechanism for self rake reapers including, in combination, a rake stand, revolving rakes carried by said stand, means including a vertically arranged shaft for actuating said ralies, a rake switch, a spring operative to normally retain said switch in an open position, said switch being moved to a vclosed position by the action of said rakes, a casing secured to said rake stand, a switch latch having one end operatively connected with said switch and its opposite end slidably received by an opening in the adjacent wall of said casing, said latch having a shoulder portion adapted to engage with said casing in a manner to lock said switch in a closed position, means operatively connected with said vertically arranged shaft for automatically releasing said switch latch at predetermined periods and at certain unvarying points in the path of lmovement of said rakes, the point of movement of said latch releasing means being controlled by said rake actuating means, a normally inoperative rocking block pivotally mounted in said casing and provided with an arm adapted to engage with said latch in a manner preventing the shoulder portion thereof from engaging with said casing when said block is rocked in one direction, said block being actuated by said latch releasing means.

LUD HOLLAND-LETZ.

Witnesses:

C. G. Gnzneonznwsm, E. L. BACON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

